Quick Facts
Individuals served in FY22: 1,605
- Through repairs: 1,605
Volunteers engaged in FY22: 3,907
Other facts:
- Capital: Singapore
- Population: 5.64 million
- Life expectancy: 83.5 years
- Unemployment rate: 2.1%
Source: World Bank
Habitat for Humanity in Singapore
Habitat for Humanity Singapore began operations in response to the urgent reconstruction needs following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Since its inception, Habitat Singapore has continually mobilized volunteers under the Global Village program for building projects across the Asia-Pacific region in countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and more. In Singapore, the Project HomeWorks program seeks to improve the living conditions of vulnerable older persons and families living in public housing across the island. To date, more than 30,000 volunteers from Singapore have worked on over 1,300 builds in the Asia-Pacific and almost 3,000 local home improvement projects. Habitat Singapore is also involved in fundraising and advocacy initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region and other parts of the world.
Housing needs in Singapore
Before 1960, only 9% of Singapore’s population lived in low-cost public housing. Today, over 80% of the population lives in high quality apartments built by Singapore’s public housing authority. Over 90% of these residents are homeowners.
Through Project HomeWorks, Habitat for Humanity Singapore partners with local volunteers to rehabilitate the homes of vulnerable families. They include older people living alone in one-room rental apartments that can be cluttered, unhygienic or pest-infested because the residents are unable to care for themselves and maintain their homes. Based on government data, there are about 88,000 older people living on their own, as of 2020.
Habitat Singapore began operations in 2004 by mobilizing volunteers to rebuild homes following the Indian Ocean tsunami. Presently, we serve both the local and the international communities through Project HomeWorks and overseas volunteer builds.
How Habitat addresses the need in Singapore
The Project HomeWorks program was conceived to improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups such as older people and those with illnesses or with disabilities living in public rental flats all over the island. Volunteers are mobilized to clean up homes, make minor repairs and ensure facilities meet safety standards. Since 2006, more than 15,000 volunteers have participated in almost 3,000 home improvement sessions. In addition, Habitat Singapore raises awareness of the need to eliminate substandard housing through high-profile events such as Home Sweep Home and LitteRally.
Habitat Singapore has partnered with several corporations, charitable foundations and non-governmental organizations. Singapore-based celebrities such as Paul Foster, Eunice Olsen, Corrinne May and Anita Kapoor lend their support as Habitat Singapore’s ambassadors. Members of campus chapters, a few of which have been established in local tertiary institutions, also volunteer, raise funds and advocate for Habitat.
Project HomeWorks
Project HomeWorks is a local volunteer program in which Habitat Singapore’s supporters work with vulnerable households to make their homes clean, safe and healthy. Many of these households include older people living alone, people living with disabilities and low-income families. Volunteers help declutter and clean up these homes — often small rental units — and replace pest-infested furniture. Since 2006, more than 20,000 volunteers have helped to rehabilitate over 4,000 homes.
Global Village
Through Habitat’s Global Village program, teams of volunteers from Singapore partner with families in need of decent, affordable housing to build homes in the Asia-Pacific region. To date, Habitat Singapore has mobilized more than 15,000 volunteers who took part in over 1,400 construction builds. Popular destinations include Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and Nepal. Due to Singapore’s proximity to the Indonesian island of Batam, Habitat Singapore is able to mobilize volunteers to improve lives through new homes and adequate access to water, electricity and drainage with our Batam Build programme.
Fundraising
Habitat Singapore regularly organises fundraisers and actively engages sponsors to power the home rehabilitation work in Singapore. As part of Habitat’s Global Funding Network, we also support families in need of safe, affordable homes in other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. As such, we welcome funding opportunities for our local work, as well as to implement high-impact and sustainable international housing projects.
